Bags of Blog — Gifts

With Valentine’s Day this weekend, there is not a lot of time to pick out a perfect present for your special someone.

 

So, if you (like me) are always a little bit disorganised when it comes to present buying, look no further as I have compiled a top five gifts for men and a top five gifts for women from Vida Vida (and you even get free UK delivery in time for Valentine’s Day! if you order by Wednesday - just click the red "Valentine's Coupon" button on the right*). 

 

Remember, all our leather goods can be personalised with a short message, name or initials, so you can make any of our products even more special for that special person in your life.

 

For the woman in your life:

 

Leather Make-Up Bag, £30 

With an internal zippered compartment and a waterproof lining, this travel essential is practical and stylish. This is a great gift that you know will be used endlessly.

 

Vintage Two Pocket Leather Satchel, £55 

This saddle bag is absolutely perfect for someone who is constantly on the run. It fits in all the essentials without being bulky, and it really is so fashionable right now. I have already put this on my personal wish list, because saddle bags are really so on trend at the moment! (I wrote an article about them too!)

 

Large Leather Satchel, £80

This is a slightly more classic bag (that is definitely still very stylish!), which will definitely be appreciated. It is perfect for the working woman, with space for a laptop and all your other bits and bobs, while staying perfectly gorgeous, and only getting better with age!

 

Extra Large Leather Weekend Bag, £195 

For a present that will keep on giving and that will guarantee a very happy response, get this and sit back as there is no end to this bag’s brilliance. From its versatility to its beautiful design, anyone would appreciate this, and if you want any more proof of how great it is, look at this article I wrote way back when the hype around this travel bag began.

 

Silver Rings, £35 - £50 

If you are looking for a Valentine’s gift that is slightly less leather, one of our handmade silver rings could be perfect. We have a range of different rings but my personal favourite is this coiled ring, and one of them is bound to be the romantic present you have been looking for!

 

For the man in your life:

 

Grande Leather Messenger, £85 

This is a great bag for your busy partner with its laptop compartment and the vast space, while still remaining effortlessly cool and stylish. The messenger is simpler than the satchel but will no doubt look great wherever it is taken and be enjoyed thoroughly.

Large Black Satchel, £95 

For a more classic style but still with its modern twist, this black leather satchel is the perfect twist for the contemporary yet practical man. It looks fantastic now but will only improve through use, and so this is a fantastic present if you want something that will look great and be used. A lot.

Leather Duffle Bag 20”, £130 

If your other half is a budding gym goer, or perhaps fitness was one of their New Year’s resolutions, this is a fantastic way to motivate. This duffle bag, which comes in other sizes and shapes, is perfect for holding a change of clothes and any other bits and bobs needed, while still remaining on trend.

 

Tan Leather Wallet, £35 

For a man who’s always on the go, this is the perfect travel companion. With pockets for cards and coins and its gorgeous design, you can’t go wrong with such a simple gift. If a wallet sounds like a good idea, but this one is not for you (or rather, your partner), then have a look at our others.

 

Leather iPad Case Organiser, £50 

If his iPad is almost equal to you in importance, this would be a great gift as it would not only help keep him organised, but it would keep his pride and joy safe and secure plus he will think of you each time he opens it up to play.  We also have other leather iPad cases, including this in black leather.

 

 

With Valentine’s Day coming up, I thought I would write a quick list of some great valentines gifts for those of you lacking inspiration.

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After going through different stages of denial that the festive season is upon us, I have finally accepted that 2014 may be coming to a close. In order to make the most of this early realisation, I decided that this year I am going to be really organised, so as to be calm and collected come the week before Christmas. So, in an effort to help myself, and maybe even you, below is some inspiration for choosing some great gifts from Vida Vida this Christmas. Enjoy!

 

• 1.  Although it may not seem like the most ground-breaking idea, a new vintage leather purse or wallet really is one of the best presents you can buy for someone. Everyone needs one, they look great and you know it will be used! From a tan leather credit card holder to a more substantial leather wallet, we have a few options that will be really appreciated, and priced at between £10 and £35, you won’t have to break the bank.

 

• 2.  Another great gift is a vintage leather handbag, keeping the recipient stylish while also being far too practical for them to not use every day!  We have loads of styles, shapes and sizes of bag; whether you go for one of our colourful clutches, a mini leather satchel or a vintage style leather satchel, a handbag is guaranteed a good reaction, especially when they look as great as these!

 

 

• 3.  For a more classic present, why not buy your loved ones one of our traditional style leather satchels. Old school style with a modern (and practical) twist, these bags are absolutely perfect for men and women of all ages and even include a compartment to keep you laptop in.  They get better and better the more they are used and the design is timeless. Whether you choose an original tan leather satchel or one of our new black leather satchels, you’re onto a winner with presents like these!

 

So hopefully this has been useful, but if not, and you’re still a little bit clueless as to what to buy who, keep your eye on the blog, as I am planning a more detailed gift guide for when the real  Christmas gift rush begins next month.

It seems ridiculous that we have started thinking about Christmas, but with Halloween out of the way and Guy Fawkes Night just over, winter seems truly to be upon us. Reminiscing last night on last year’s mad rush the week before Christmas Day, I decided that I would be more organised this time and try to have all of my Christmas presents bought before December really hits us.  As I’ve set myself this (seemingly improbable) target, I figured making it public may be the incentive I need to ensure that come 23^rd December, I am not running around Oxford Street (although it’s beautiful at this time, it is also terrifying), desperately searching for that one specific toy that the boys wanted so desperately or the ‘sold out everywhere’ Christmas toy of the year.

 

To motivate myself, and maybe even a few of you, I thought I would share the top three tips I found for buying presents that friends and family will love for years to come:

 

1.  Although it sounds pretty obvious, finding out what your loved ones would like really is the start to buying them an awesome gift. Whether you ask them straight up, or try to discover what’s on their Christmas present wish list more subtly, it’s important to have an idea of what they would appreciate. So, before you impulse-buy something that not only they might never use, but could also be a waste of your own money, set out to uncover what they really want. And don’t forget to drop some subtle hints about the presents you’d like while doing this!

 

2.  This may sound like another obvious tip, but keeping organised is pretty important. Make a list of all of the people you want to buy Christmas gifts for, and when you covertly discover what they want, or just stumble upon an idea, write it down. You will therefore have a go-to list of all the options you have and there’ll be no mix-ups – hopefully! This is also really useful when it comes to Christmas budgeting and making sure you don’t forget anyone.

 

3.  Last but definitely not least (in fact, probably the best advice out there): order things online. Not only does it stop you from traipsing around every department store looking for the same item, but it means you have more time available and can really appreciate the beautiful Christmas Markets (which we have carefully researched and recommended to you) and all of the endless amazing events during the best season!

 

One last word of advice for any of you who successfully manage to get the Christmas shopping finished before December begins; find a good hiding place! Oh, and for some great gift ideas for those who don’t know themselves, check out some of our lovely bags, satchels and leather accessories.  This year we can even emboss any leather gift with your own personal message (more on that later).

Its time again for the Christmas Markets to start opening soon and here are some of our picks of the best markets around.  We LOVE some of these places and have spent many years trading and traveling to them.

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